If At FIrst You Don't Succeed...Call It Something Else.

Finally. A blog post. Sorry, but it was a long, busy week. And too much to think about. And too many demons to wrestle...so...

Before I worked for The Bank, I worked for the City of New York for eight years as a Project Architect. The learning opportunities at the Housing Preservation and Development were great- not only did I get to design and build housing for lower income families, I learned the fine art of running a business out of a cubicle.

ALL the city workers do it...

I learned the tools of my trade at this job- Autocad. I also learned that not all architects are created equal. Especially if you're male. If you're male, you are naturally a much higher caliber individual. And smarter.

Of COURSEyou are...

But the most important lesson I learned while working for HPD was one my future husband taught me. He taught me to love different ethnic foods. Lunches at Indian restaurants. Dinners in Chinatown for Thai. Snacks at out-of-the-way Pakistani stands. He introduced me to spicy foods and now it's one more thing I'm indebted to him for.

Working for the City was like working in the United Nations. I worked elbow to elbow with every nationality. And with those nationalities came the food.

Oh, yes. Bharti's vegetarian lunches. Mike's hummus.. Lily's scallion pancakes. Ann's spicy curdled milk.

Different folks, different foods. I tried all of them and loved it all.

One day, we had a brainstorm. Instead of going out one day, let's all bring in something from home for a potluck. I always dreaded being on the supply side of a potluck- especially an ethnic one. This American white girl has no ethnic history. White girl usually brought cornbread. Or salad. I think on the day of the HPD potluck I brought in a huge bowl of lettuce. Oh so boring.

But on the receiving end? I was in heaven. All the homemade Russian, Greek, Polish, Indian, Middle Eastern, Jamaican, Italian, Chinese, Guyanese food...and salad...was wonderful. We ate and picked all afternoon. It was the first time I tried dishes like hummus, babaganoush, tabouli, saag paneer and kielbasa. My favorite? Our Egyptian engineer's wife's babaganoush. I remember taking the whole bowl back to my desk after lunch to nosh on with the toasted pita points. Heaven!

So I was craving this eggplant dish the other day and decided to document making it. Hey-all the big name bloggers are all doing it...so I figured I'd try my first photo recipe. Since I cleaned the fridge and threw out the tahini, I needed a recipe that didn't include it. I remember Mike's babaganoush to be tahini free, too, so I found the recipe here:

Babaganoush

2 eggplants
2 tbsp lemon juice
5 cloves minced garlic, preferably roasted
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cumin (the stuff in the blue bowl)
1/2 tsp parsley

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Slice eggplants in half and pierce with a fork in several places.

Roast for about 45 minutes, or until soft. Allow to cool slightly, then scoop out inside of eggplant, leaving skin behind. In a blender or food processor, process eggplant with remaining ingredients until smooth.

Easy, huh? One would think. I split the recipe in half and used the other eggplant to make this:

Chili Lime Babaganoush

2 medium eggplants
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp tahini
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin

Slice eggplant in half, and roast in 400 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until soft.
Allow to cool slightly, then scoop out inside of eggplant, leaving skin behind.
In a blender or food processor, combine eggplant and remaining ingredients until smooth.

I don't know if I processed the eggplant mess too much, but it didn't have the consistency I've come to know as babaganoush. It came out more like a tapanade. Spreadable. Creamy. Not "ganoushy" at all. Or maybe too "ganoushy?"

So I call it eggplant tapanade. I've been spreading it on wraps and stuffing the wraps with baby spinach and sprinkling dried cranberries on top. Oooh, what a great tapanade. So spreadable! Delicious! Perfect for my new low-carb diet.

Yeah, that's not raspberry jam and caramel sauce. It's my wonderful new tapanade/babaganoush fail.
I'll keep trying to perfect not only the babaganoush, but also my picture taking.

Because I like typing the word BABAGANOUSH!

Out With The Old, In With The New

Wow. I am not alone. It's comforting in a way, that tons of peeps share my feelings that 2009 sucked ass. Big time.

The blogging world concurs.

While waiting for my routines to run at work, I visited a few of my favorite blogs, as well as a few of my least favorite. I scouted around the Interwebs looking for new voices, new laughs, new snark. I found a few keepers, some I want to explore more. I found a few space wasters, and no, I won't link and drive traffic to them- they really don't deserve it.

But a common theme running through most of them the last few days? That many of them were ready to move on to bright, shiny new 2010.

And I'm joining that throng that wanted to throw 2009 to the curb. And kick it while it's down.

So I already did my whiny, crybaby post about how melancholy I was going into the new year. I sulked on Sunday (maybe it was the bourbon, maybe it was MENOPAUSE!)

But after awhile I realized that a lot of good came out of the sadness and insanity of 2009. Such as...

• I've forged a closer bond to Dad. Since it was him and Mom for so long, it was hard to get close to one or the other. Dad relies on certain stuff for me (computer crap and recipes) and we've made a point to get together often- not just for holidays.


• My layoff from the bank resulted in getting my debts paid off.


• The $13,000 screw up resulted in getting household projects started as well providing us a very nice Christmas.


• I got a tattoo.


• My current consulting job with the bank resulted in a very nice bonus and a raise. Working directly for the bank got me diddly at bonus time the past few years, so this year was a nice surprise.


• I started going to the gym and haven't gained any weight since August. Plus my bingo wings are firming up.


• The family crisis back in April has brought the rest of us a little closer to each other. We appreciate each other more.


• I've found some true blue friends who stuck with me through crisis. I've made a bunch of new friends this past year. I'm no longer wasting time on one- sided relationships.

Most importantly, I've explored my Inner Pieces inside and out and have come to the conclusion that although I have things in my life I'd like to change, I'm basically happy. That suckish year is behind me, and I only have good things (and night sweats) to look forward to.

And to finish what I've started, here's the rest of the cookie recipes from the cookie party!

Irene's Lemony Crisps

1 (18.25 oz.) pkg. Lemon Cake Mix (Pillsbury Moist Supreme)
1/3 cup Oil
2 Eggs
1/4 cup Sugar
1 cup Powdered Sugar
2-3 tablespoons Lemon Juice
Colored Sugar for decoration

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl combine cake mix, oil, and eggs. Stir until thoroughly moistened. Shape dough into 1" balls; place 2" apart on un greased cookie sheet (line cookie sheets with parchment for easy removal). Place sugar in shallow dish. Dip the bottom of a glass into the sugar and then flatten the cookies to 1/4" thickness. This gives the cookies a nice sugar crunch topping.
Bake at 375 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.
In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over cookies and sprinkle with colored sugar before icing sets. Yields 4 dozen cookies

Beth's Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey." Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired. Yield: 2 dozen cookies

Jodi's Slice and Bake Shortbread Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine butter, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour. Beat, scraping bowl often, until mixture leaves side of bowl and forms a smooth, soft dough. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 6x2-inch round log. Wrap each log in plastic food wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours. Heat oven to 375°F. Cut logs into 1/4-inch slices with sharp knife. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned on edges. Let stand 5 minutes before removing from cookie sheets. Meanwhile, combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Roll warm cookies in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Yields 3 ½ dozen cookies

VARIATION:Marbled Slice & Bake Shortbread Cookies: Melt 2 (1-ounce) squares semi-sweet baking chocolate* in 1-quart saucepan over low heat; cool 5 minutes. Prepare dough as directed. Remove half of dough from bowl; set aside. To remaining dough in bowl, add cooled melted chocolate. Beat at low speed just until mixed. Divide white and chocolate doughs into 2 pieces each. Shape each piece into a 6-inch log. Press and mold together 1 white and 1 chocolate log to create marbled effect. Shape marbled dough into 6-inch log. Repeat with remaining 2 pieces of dough. Wrap each log in plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours). Slice and bake as directed above. Roll warm cookies in sugar. *Substitute 1/3 cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled.

Eileen's Meringue Mushrooms

2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar
Cocoa
Chocolate Frosting (recipe below, canned will also work)

Cover 2 cookie sheets with heavy brown paper. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff and glossy, about 5 minutes, do not underbeat.

Heat oven to 200. Fit decorator's tube with plain tip, with 1/4 inch opening (#10 or 11). Fill tube with meringue, hold tube upright, pipe out about 55 mushroom caps, each 1 - 1 1/4 in. diameter. Sift cocoa over the caps. Bake until firm, 45 - 50 minutes. Remove from oven immediately turn caps upside down and carefully make an indentation on the bottom of each cap, wooden spoon handle is ideal size. Brush off excess cocoa with soft bristle brush.

Using same tip, on 2nd cookie sheet pipe out about 55 stems, about 3/4 inch diameter. Stems should have peaks that will fit into mushroom caps. Bake until firm, about 40 - 45 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting

1 squares (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate
1 teaspoons butter
1 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoons hot water

Heat chocolate and butter until melted. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar and hot water until smooth and of spreading consistency. If necessary, add more hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time.

Assemble the Mushrooms

Turn over each cap, spread a small amount of frosting in the indentation, insert stem, carefully place upside down to dry. Store uncovered at room temperature.

It's Getting Hot In Here...

I love lists. I love thinking things up and writing them down in a list. I love reading other people’s lists. If I find one in the supermarket, I love playing the voyeur and reading what other people need out of life. I love making shopping lists, to-do lists, Christmas lists, meal planning lists, even “100 things I love/hate” lists. Many, many years ago, my friend and I even wrote a “Pro/Con” list why I should get married to my future ex-husband. The “cons” totally outweighed the “pros” and yet I married him anyway. Yeah, young and stupid. That’s me.

Anyway, I came across a list today that I DON’T FREAKIN’ LIKE MUCH. This list scares the crap out of me! Like, HOLY SHIT, why did I even click on this? Damn you, Google, for even putting this out on the Interwebs…

Try and guess what these are symptoms of:

1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
2. Irregular heart beat
3. Irritability
4. Mood swings, sudden tears
5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
6. Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
7. Loss of libido
8. Dry vagina
9. Crashing fatigue
10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom
12. Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
13. Disturbing memory lapses
14. Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence
15. Itchy, crawly skin (feeling of ants crawling under the skin, not just dry itchy skin)
16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
17. Increased tension in muscles
18. Breast tenderness
19. Headache change: increase or decrease
20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea
21. Sudden bouts of bloat
22. Depression
23. Exacerbation of existing conditions
24. Increase in allergies
25. Weight gain
26. Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair
27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
28. Changes in body odor
29. Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
30. Tingling in the extremities
31. Gum problems, increased bleeding
32. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor
33. Osteoporosis (after several years)
34. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
35. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing,' buzzing etc.

Yes, it’s a list of symptoms of menopause. Lovely.

So…not to go too deeply into the realm of TMI, but DAMN, my armpits have been itching for weeks now! A really deep itch. Like the itch I had in my boobs about a year ago. Related? Probably. I’ve changed deodorant and detergent and I’m still walking around scratching like a monkey looking for a banana. And when I go to bed, I get all snuggly in my pajamas and comforters and put my feet on MR to warm them up. By morning? Fuck that! Too hot! I want to strip down naked and stand in front of the open refrigerator. I would, too, if my kitchen had curtains. I wake up in a puddle of sweat every damn morning lately. Thirteen of the 35 symptoms listed here have now made themselves known to me.

WTF.

Is this what I have to look forward to for the next 10 years- my body playing some hideously ridiculous tricks on me? Why can’t my eggs dry up nice and quiet like? Why do they feel like they have to have some huge going away party at my expense?

Yeah, so this is one list I’m not looking forward to completing. In fact, I’m planning on adding to this list. I’m going to blame EVERYTHING on menopause! Fever sore smack dab in the middle of my lip on Christmas? Menopause! Grotesquely calloused feet? Not because I live in my Uggs- it’s Menopause! Third degree burn on my index finger from molten caramel? Menopause caused it! Major heartburn the day after Christmas- it wasn’t the gravy- it was Menopause!

(Hey- I’ll be like that annoying mommyblogger when she got Shingles! Capitalize and exclamation the hell out of it!)

Now to continue showering you with the cookie recipes from the cookie party (those extra pounds were NOT from eating cookies- they were from Menopause!) here are Mia’s version of Uncle Anthony’s Sesame Cookies- a definite winner in my household. And Mia is now a cookie making monster!

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter (left out of refrigerator for an hour to soften. Do Not microwave!)
2 tbsp water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 pinch of salt
1 beaten egg
1 cup of sesame seeds

Mix all ingredients so smooth. Add wet ingredients (egg/water/vanilla). Mix/roll until uniform. Roll into logs. Cut into 2 inch pieces. Roll in seeds. Bake 16-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Poke with toothpick. Remove when slightly moist. Cookies will cook a little more on cooling rack.
Makes 2 dozen.

Countdown to Christmas #11- Puppet Master

Finally! I'm done with my nieces and nephew's puppet theater. I had pretty much finished yesterday but I still had to make the case. It was inspired by Amy Carol's book "Bend the Rules Sewing" which I purchased last year. I started the puppet theater last year, but I never finished it for Christmas. I put a little bit of history into this thing...the curtains (which look a little scrunchy) are made from material my mom made for me and my brother when we shared a room at my old house. The room was done in a circus theme. We shared until I was around 5, and they put an extension on top of the house and added two bedrooms- one for me, one for my brother, Robbie. The black and white material is from an old sheet I kept over my dollhouse in my old home.

I picked up two sets of new puppets on eBay for them and when we go up when the new baby is born, I'll bring three more puppets I plan on making from recycled dish detergent bottles. Now all they need is their imagination!

Continuing with my awesomeness (hah!) I'm posting pictures of one of my nativity sets. I have three out. I made this one around 15 years ago at ceramics. I started going to ceramics (hi Judy!) in 1984 to start making my first wedding favors. Aunt Anne, Mom, Diane and I would carpool to Merrick and go to classes in Judy's basement. Some of my best memories are from ceramics. So getting back to the nativity (not creche, MR!) I cleaned and painted each piece (baby Jesus isn't there yet) and Mom and Dad bought the stable for me. I still have two or three pieces I have to paint, and for some reason my shepherd is missing. Maybe he went for coffee. I'm planning on doing an artsy pictorial with this nativity set because there is so much detail.

We went to Walmart tonight. We had to pass the mall entrance and I said a silent prayer of thanks that we didn't have to go to the mall. Walmart was all kinds of crazy- with the best of humanity shopping for last minute presents. I got a headache just trying to maneuver between the massive masses. But I almost finished. A few more odds and ends and I'm done!

Cookie recipe tonight- Beena's no-bake Chocolate Coffee balls. These are really good when they're stale!

2 tsps. Instant coffee powder
½ cup hot water
1 cup (6 oz.)semisweet chocolate chips
3 tbsp. light corn syrup
3 cups powdered sugar
1 3.4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup walnuts, chopped fine
Powdered sugar for rolling
Dissolve the coffee in the hot water. In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate over low heat, stirring until smooth. Stir in the corn syrup. Stir in the coffee. Remove from he heat and beat in the powdered sugar. Gradually blend in the graham crackers and walnuts. Pinch off 1-inch pieces of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container for at least 2 days before serving.

For cookies with more of a kick, use 1.2 cup of coffee liqueur in place of the
water and coffee.

Four more days!

Countdown to Christmas #10- Like an Elf

Being snowed in today with the first blizzard of the season, I actually got alot done. I was like Santa's elves. Did laundry, made butter cookies (using my new cookie gun- thanks Kathy and Patty,) cleaned the kitchen, made peppermint bark with Z-girl and finally got my nieces and nephew's puppet theater done. I need to make the case, but the gift is done. I'll post pictures when it's ironed and ready to be wrapped.

I didn't take pictures of the snow! We got around 14 inches overnight. Zombiegirl was at Kendal's birthday sleepover and I had to walk a few blocks to drop winter clothes off so she could play with her friends. It took me less time to walk than to clean off my car. MR shovelled us and the ladies next door out while I shovelled their walk and stoop. And I'm paying for it now. What the heck am I going to the gym for if a little physical labor knocks me out?

I still have several gifts to make by Christmas eve- hooded towels and a set of felt mustaches for

the nephew. I got a reprieve on the soccer kids gifts- we're having a Christmas dinner on January 2, so I have until then to finish that sewing. I'll finish everything, though. I'm pacing myself and I took Christmas Eve off. That day is going to be taken up making a croque en bouche and chocolate monkey bread for Paula and Ray's.

Today's cookie is my co-host's and my favorite from the cookie exchange. It's almost like a gingerbread cookie- and works great when dipped in tea!

Ronnie's Molasses Sugar Cookie

1 1/2 cups shortening

4 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup molasses

1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

1 teaspoon ground cloves
4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground ginger

Melt shortening and cool. Add sugar, eggs and molasses; beat well.
Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ground cloves and ginger. Add to the molasses mixture and stir until well combined. Chill dough for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Remove dough from the refrigerator and form into walnut sized balls. Roll balls in white sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies and 10 to 12 minutes for crisper cookies. Store cookies in an airtight container. Yields 6 dozen.

Countdown to Christmas #9- Cookie Exchange 2009

Okay, enough with the stupid crap that's going on at the Dreamscape post. It's been taken to Facebook. I'm keeping the comments up for one more day, then they're being archived.

Soulspeak, baby. I love you. Thanks for saying everything I've been thinking.

So enough. Christmas is almost here!

Last Saturday we had our annual Cookie Party Exchange. I was smart this year and tried my cookies out in October because my cookies never come out like the picture of the recipe I use. The consensus was good so I stuck with that one. What's not to like about Caramel Apple Cookies?

We moved the party to Ronnie's house last year because it's apparent that my house is way too small. We ditched the kids this year since all our guests had kids and it would have been too crowded.

What do we do at a Cookie Party, you may ask? To start, each guest is asked to bring six dozen cookies and a $5.00 gift beautifully wrapped. They have to email me the recipe beforehand because each guest goes home with a tray of cookies (tray provided by us) a stack of recipe cards, a gift and a favor (provided by us) usually something baking related.

We play Steal the Gift, that's why the $5.00 gift has to be beautifully wrapped, to entice everyone to steal it. It's hard to find a $5.00 gift, so next year we're going to do Steal the Gift with ornaments or up the price of the gift.

Some of the games we play are;

• Forbidden Words- each guest is given a necklace with a small cookie cutter attached. A group of five or six words are posted around the house. If you catch someone saying the forbidden words, then you get to take their necklace. The person with the most necklaces at the end of the night wins a prize.
• Sit On Your Friends Lap- a list of questions is asked. If you answer "yes" to any of the questions, you move one seat to the right. If someone is sitting there, tough- sit on their lap. The person who ends up in their original seat wins.
• Draw On Your Head- paper is placed on your head, and your given instructions on what to draw. The person who comes closest to the directions wins.
• Left/Right Game- A modified version of "Night Before Christmas" is read and every time the word "right" or "left" is said, a stuffed Rudolph is passed around the circle in that direction. No hands allowed, though! Last one with Rudolph is the winner.
• Guess What's in the Stocking- items are placed in two stockings and without looking, guests have to feel and write what's in them. The person with the most right answers wins.

Each day up until Christmas, I'll be posting the recipes of all the cookies that made an appearance at the party. I'll start with mine...it was originally found here.

Caramel Apple Cookies

1 cup butter

½ tsp salt

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

12 oz caramel baking bits

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups granny smith apples, peeled and finely chopped
2 cups flour

2¾ cup old fashioned oats, pulsed in food processor until finely ground (not quick-cooking oatmeal)

In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and eggs. Beat until combined. In a medium-sized bowl, stir the oatmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until combined. Set aside. Using an electric mixer, stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until combined. Stir in the caramel bits and apples. Save a few of each (the apple and the caramel) for dotting on top of the rolled cookie dough balls. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour. Roll the cookie dough into golf ball-sized balls.

Bake on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, for 10-12 minutes. The sheet should be placed on the upper middle rack. Cool on the pan for 4 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Note: Dough is best the day of. In time, the apples add extra moisture to the dough, causing a wider spread on the baked cookies. Alternatively, you can pre-roll the dough into balls and freeze if you aren't using it all the first day. Place the dough balls on a cookie sheet until solid, and then transfer to a labeled sealable freezer bag. Use within one month. Simply add an extra couple minutes to the baking time since the dough is frozen.
Yields 3 dozen

My Soccer Moms. Thanks Ronnie, for hosting the 6th (or it 7th?) Annual Cookie Exchange!

Victory!

In November, I posted (almost) every day what I was thankful for. Along with that, I did a little rant (almost) every day. I ranted the first day about Stop and Shop not stocking soy yogurt and soy cream cheese. I asked them on their website to please stock these items, and I got back a wishy-washy letter back from James saying thanks for the suggestion. Well, I went shopping at Stop and Shop January 1st for our first annual Hunter's Feast- and what did I find? SOY CREAM CHEESE and SOY YOGURT! Yay! Victory is mine! Thanks, James- you have a customer for life!

So the Hunter's Feast was cool- all the camping families came over (minus one- guess who that was?) MR made awesome cutlets, and I burned the stew in the pressure cooker. (Anyone with experience with pressure cookers- please help! The thing still scares the crap out of me! ) Anyway, we made 2 packages of cutlets, and served the kids first. They snagged almost all the cutlets! Even with 2 platters of chicken nuggets available! I grabbed Andrew's cutlets, since he didn't want them, and Jodi was able to get Tyler's. Everyone ate, no one died, and they even complimented me on the food! Go figure! What was the crowd favorite? Mrs. Wilkes Sweet Potato Souffle.

Don't know Mrs. Wilkes Boardinghouse? Next time you're in Savannah, GA, pay a visit. Be prepared to wait an hour or so for the family style seating, but it's totally worth it. Down home cooking (only for lunch) for $16 a person. All you can eat! One year we went when Beena was around 8 year old. She managed to eat around 10 pieces of fried chicken. The large southern black women in the kitchen all came out to see the "little bitty thing that ate all that chicken!" They make you bus your own plate and glass, too! Of the Sweet Potato Souffle, Mrs. Wilkes said, "A lot of people buy my cookbook just to get this recipe." MR bought me the cookbook just so I could have this recipe! I modified it one little bit, though. I skipped the evaporated milk, used walnuts, and used grated orange instead of lemon. No marshmallows, either.

4 pounds sweet potatoes, pared and sliced
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup raisins
Grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup shredded coconut
Miniature marshmallows
Place the potatoes in a pot and add enough salted water to cover. Cook until tender. Drain. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mash and whip the potatoes. Add the remaining ingredients (except marshmallows) and mix well. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with marshmallows. Return to the oven and continue cooking until brown. Yum!

I also made corn bread using a corn muffin mix and egg nog! Just put in enough egg nog to make the batter wet. It's a dense, tasty corn bread, great for the holidays!

And just to show you my man can cook, and yes, those are the deer antlers he mounted: